HHS grads challenged to make a difference

Friday

Dec 21, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 22, 2012 at 12:20 AM

The 56 Hannibal High School Class of 2013 mid-term graduates who received their diplomas on Friday, Dec. 21, were challenged by their principal, Ryan Sharkey, and school superintendent, Dr. Jill Janes, to make a difference and become the best they can be.

Bev Darrbev.darr@courierpost.com

The 56 Hannibal High School Class of 2013 mid-term graduates who received their diplomas on Friday, Dec. 21, were challenged by their principal, Ryan Sharkey, and school superintendent, Dr. Jill Janes, to make a difference and become the best they can be.“Changes will not come if you wait,” Janes said. “You are leaving here today in difficult times, but you are the ones who can make a change. .... Go out and make the world a better place.”During the ceremonies Sharkey introduced three groups of students, those who are ready to enter the work force, those who plan to continue their education and one man who will enter the military. This was Ethan Taylor Brown, and when he was introduced, the audience gave him a standing ovation.Earlier Janes said she encouraged the graduates to “look around and realize the importance of this moment and the hard work it took.”She challenged them to become leaders, noting “what you do will make a difference today, tomorrow and the day after.“Accept the best of yourself,” Janes said. “Know yourself and what you can and cannot do. ... You will make a difference, and that difference will become you.”Sharkey told the graduates he is “personally very proud of your accomplishments,” adding “now as each of you are going your own way,” he hopes they have learned a “great work ethic” at Hannibal High School.He reported this is the 138th class to graduate from Hannibal High School, and including these 56 young men and women, a total of 19,923 have received HHS diplomas.After the ceremonies, as the graduates posed for photos with families and friends in the hallways, some shared their future plans.Curtis Adair said he graduated at mid-term to focus on his lawn service “and pursue my dreams.”Kristen Dodd plans to major in chemistry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and either become a pharmacist or enter medical school. She was surrounded by fellow HHS senior who will graduate in the spring - Mikayla Murphy, Hannah Stilley, Katherine Allen and Tony Hodgson.Brandon Forster plans to attend Mizzou and “possibly become a lawyer.”Victoria Lewton, posing for photos with her mom, Sasha, said she plans to become a social worker after attending the Missouri State University in Springfield.The graduates are: